Oh this week! I feel like I say every week that it was an emotional rollercoaster, but this week really was an emotional rollercoaster! Angel got baptized! This old man finally quit smoking and drinking and got baptized! Now we are prepping him to go to the temple in the ward temple trip next month. He is the uncle of the husband of Ana, my convert, so it's nice to him reconnect with his family through the church. Gael, Kevin, and Cristian are already memorizing scriptures! Cristian taught in young mens too! They are already good friends with all the kids their age. Hermana Gonzalez and Hermana Palmer are going to give Cristian a Preach my Gospel, the book the missionaries use, so he can start preparing for his mission, because he expressed interest in it. I love this family so much! I think it's so funny that I got to teach almost every member in this family.
We were going to also have Rubi's and Jose's baptisms this weekend, but something happened that made me cry a little bit. We went to their house to take them to their baptismal interviews, the interview to make sure they understand everything and are all good to get baptized, and we found a plastic bag outside of their door, and in it was all of the pamphets, the three Books of Mormon they had, and the dresses we gave to Perla and Rubi, so they didn't feel awkward in church. Also no one was home, and their neighbor said that they left to go to another church. I can't describe how heartbroken I felt. We waited for a while to see if anyone would show up, no one did. We left a note saying these were for them and went to the house. The next day Hermana Morales, the mission President's wife, came with us to teach Rubi and Perla in the morning. The lesson was going pretty good until Rubi closed the door and refused to come out. It's weird now, because Perla, who didn't want us to come before, wants us to come, and Rubi, who wanted us to come before, doesn't want us to come. Jose is still reading the Book of Mormon, so there is still hope there. We just got to see him to talk to him and hear what he says. I'm praying for them a lot.
We are also teaching someone that I contacted with Hermana Monson, but we could never find again, because a member talked to him about the gospel. He said that he wanted the missionaries to come by and teach him and his sister. We did exactly that on Sunday, and it was such a great lesson. The Spirit was so thick that the sister was crying, and I almost cried when I testified about how our families can be together forever.
I love my mission! I love the people here! I love seeing the changes that happen in people's lives when they embrace the gospel. I want everyone to know that Heavenly Father loves you! Trust in Him and in His timing, and great things will happen.
I love y'all!
Hermana Stevenson
We were going to also have Rubi's and Jose's baptisms this weekend, but something happened that made me cry a little bit. We went to their house to take them to their baptismal interviews, the interview to make sure they understand everything and are all good to get baptized, and we found a plastic bag outside of their door, and in it was all of the pamphets, the three Books of Mormon they had, and the dresses we gave to Perla and Rubi, so they didn't feel awkward in church. Also no one was home, and their neighbor said that they left to go to another church. I can't describe how heartbroken I felt. We waited for a while to see if anyone would show up, no one did. We left a note saying these were for them and went to the house. The next day Hermana Morales, the mission President's wife, came with us to teach Rubi and Perla in the morning. The lesson was going pretty good until Rubi closed the door and refused to come out. It's weird now, because Perla, who didn't want us to come before, wants us to come, and Rubi, who wanted us to come before, doesn't want us to come. Jose is still reading the Book of Mormon, so there is still hope there. We just got to see him to talk to him and hear what he says. I'm praying for them a lot.
We are also teaching someone that I contacted with Hermana Monson, but we could never find again, because a member talked to him about the gospel. He said that he wanted the missionaries to come by and teach him and his sister. We did exactly that on Sunday, and it was such a great lesson. The Spirit was so thick that the sister was crying, and I almost cried when I testified about how our families can be together forever.
I love my mission! I love the people here! I love seeing the changes that happen in people's lives when they embrace the gospel. I want everyone to know that Heavenly Father loves you! Trust in Him and in His timing, and great things will happen.
I love y'all!
Hermana Stevenson